Carton sealing apparatus



Aug. 24, 1954 K. A..STRZALA CARTON SEALING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1950 I Zhwen tor KAZJMEE ASTHZALA.

tomegs Aug; 24, 1954 K. A. STRZALA 2,687,058

CARTON SEALING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12,-1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JQZIMBR Afi'mzALA;

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CARTON SEALING APPARATUS Kazimer A. Strzala, San Pablo, Califi, assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application December 12, 1950-, Serial No. 200,394

Claims.

This invention relates to a carton sealing apparatus and particularly to a device which will insure that glue or adhesive will not contact the cell-forming partitions of the cartons during the sealing operation,

In sealing the bottom flaps of cartons, it is customary to pass the flaps over glue applying means such as a glue roll and thereby apply a strip of glue to areas of the end flaps. The overlapping or side flaps of the carton are then brought into contact with the adhered portions and the bottom is thereupon sealed. In the usual construction of paper cartons a space exists between the end flaps of the carton and the cell-forming partition panels sometimes become misaligned and project downwardly into this space. When this occurs, the partition panels come into contact with the glue roll as the carton passes over the glue roll and glue is deposited upon the panels.

As a result the partitions become attached to the bottom forming flaps and as a consequence cannot be removed from the carton without tearing the latter. This glue may also contact the sealing surface of containers which are subsequently inserted in the carton and thereby prevent vacuum sealing of the containers. Such will result in leakage and spoilage of the contents.

These difliculties are often eliminated by providing a pad on the bottom of the carton. The glue roll will contact this pad instead of the partition panels.

It isan object of this invention to provide a device which will positively position the partition panels out of the path of the glue roll and eliminate any need for a thin pad.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which will be actuated by the carton itself as it moves into position to be sealed.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the carton sealing apparatus in which my invention may be embodied;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the partition kicker device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view at the line 4-4 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view at the line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

\ Basically, this invention comprises a springrails 23, 24 by the endless belts 25, 26.

loaded lever arm which projects upwardly into the path of the cartons and pushes misaligned partition strips upwardly so that they are out of contact with the glue roll when they pass thereover.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a carton it! which is to be sealed includes ends I2, top end flaps l3, l4, top side flaps [5, bottom end flaps l6, [1,

bottom side flaps I8 and end flaps ll (Fig. 5).

Cell-forming partition strips [9 and 2e are inserted within the carton. The carton sealing apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a frame 2! and uprights 22. Guide rails 23 and 2 8 are mounted on the uprights 2'2 and extend horizontally along a portion of the length of the apparatus. As shown in Fig. 2 the cartons Ill, having the end flaps I3, l4, l6, ll folded into horizontal position, are carried along the guide The endless belts 25, 26 are mounted on vertical rolls 21 on either side of the apparatus. These belts grip and compress the sides II of the carton and when provided with any conventional driving means (not shown) carry the carton along the length of the apparatus. An endless belt 28 is mounted above the center oi the apparatus on rolls 29 and applies'pressure to the tops of the cartons.

A rotatable glue roll 30 and glue pot 3! are positioned below the path of the cartons. The guide rails 23, '24 extend substantially to the extremities of the roll in order to guide the bottom end flaps I6, I! to the roll. The glue roll applies a coating of glue or adhesive to the bottom end flaps as they move along over the roll.

A pair of guide rails 32 extend from the sides of the machine upwardly and inwardly towards the end of the machine in such a manner that the bottom side flaps are folded upwardly into contact with the bottom end flaps after the carton passes over the glue rolls.

The carton then passes between a pair of continuously moving endless belts, one of which is shown at 33, Figs. 1 and 2, by which pressure is applied to seal the bottom flaps. The foregoing is more or less conventional structure.

As shown in Fig. 2, in the usual carton construction a space 34 exists between the edges of the bottom end flaps I6, I! when they are folded to form the bottom. One of the partition panels [9" often slips downwardly into this space and comes into contact with the glue roll upon subsequent movement of the carton along the length of the apparatus. This is very undesirable in that the glue may be transferred to the containers which are subsequently inserted in the carton.

In order to prevent this from taking place, the invention provides for a partition kicker device 35 which is actuated by the carton as subsequently described and pushes the partition panel which may have become misaligned upwardly out of space 34 and thereby prevents the glue roll from contacting the partition panel as the carton passes over the roll. As shown in Fig. 2, the partition kicker device 35 is mounted below the path of movement of the carton and along the center line of the apparatus. The device 35 includes a base plate 36 which is formed with a key 3! projecting downwardl into an opening 38 in the cross plate 59. A nut 39, bolt Q9 and lock washer ll are provided through an opening in the plate to secure the plate in position relative to the cross bar 56.

Two pairs of small vertical uprights 42 (Figs. 3, 4 and are provided at the forward end of the base plate 36. The upper ends 43 of these uprights are in the form of hooks. An arm M provided with a pin 46 is positioned between each pair of uprights. The arm 44 includes a normally vertical portion 41 and an inclined portion 48. A spring is is inserted between the inclined portion :3 and the base plate 35 and is guided by the pin 5! to keep the inclined portion in a normally upward position. The length of the vertical portion M is such that the vertical portion will contact the edge of the base plate 38 and thereby limit the movement of the arm 44.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the inclined portion of the arm it extends upwardly into the path 3 of movement of the cartons.

As a carton is pushed along the guide rails 23, 2d prior to being compressed between the endless belts 25, 255, the bottom end flap 16 contacts strips I9, 253 are interlocked, the entire series of partition strips will be forceably pushed upwardly against the top of the carton into position to clear the glue roll as they pass over it. The arms M will remain in contact with the par-tition strip as the carton is pushed along the guide rails until the belts 25, 26 grip and compress the sides of the carton and, in turn, the partition strips thereby retaining them in an upward position in the carton.

The carton is then carried along and sealed as previously described.

It can readily be seen that. this invention provides a simple means which is, actuated by the carton to positively insure that the partition panels will not be in the path of the glue roll.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end flaps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including means for compressing the sides of the carton and carrying the carton in a horizontal path, means for applying pressure to the top of said carton during the horizontal movement, means for holding bottom end flaps in folded position during a portion of the horizontal movement, said latter means extending from a point in advance of the means for compressing the sides to a point below th means for compressing the sides, means mounted below the path of the cartons for applying adhesive to the folded bottom end flaps, an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons move thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive applying means and in advance of and adjacent to the means for compressing the sides of the carton, said arm being spring loaded so that it will be pushed out of the path of the carton by the bottom end flaps as the carton is being placed in position to be acted upon by the means for comp-easing the sides and will be forced upwardly into the space between the edges of the end flaps carton is advanced and forcibly push any partition strips upwardly into the carnto position to be retained by the means for compressing the sides.

2. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end flaps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including means for compressing the sides of the carton and carrying the carton in a horizontal path, means for applying pressure to the top of said carton during the horizontal movement, means for holding the bottom end flaps in folded position during a portion of the horizontal movement, said latter means extending from a point in advance of the means for compressing the sides to a point below the means for compressing the sides, means mounted below the path of the cartons for applying adhesive to the folded bottom end flaps, an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons move thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive applying means and in advance of and adjacent to the means for compressing the sides of the carton, said arm being pivoted at a point below the path of the carton and extending diagonally upwardly away from the pivot point in the direction of movement of the cartons, and a spring positioned below said arm and holding it upwardly into the path of the cartons whereby said arm will be depressed by the bottom end flaps as the carton is being placed in position to be acted upon by the means for compressing the sides, and said depressed arm will be forced upwardly into the space between the. edges f the tt nd flaps the carton is moved forward thereby. forcibly pushing any misaligned partition strips upwardly into position to be retained by the means for compressing the sides of the carton.

3. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition. panels inserted therein, said carton having Side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of th end flaps. when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including means for compressing the sides of the carton and carrying the carton in a horizontal path, means for applying ressure to the top of said carton during the horizontal movement, means for holding the bottom end flaps in folded position during a portion of the horizontal movement, means mounted below the path of the cartons for applying adhesive to the folded bottom end flaps, an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons pass thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive applying means and in advance of the means for compressing the sides of the carton, said arm having a normally vertical portion and an inclined portion connected to the upper end of the vertical portion and extending diagonally upward and in the direction of the path of the cartons, said arm being pivoted at the upper end of the vertical portion, a spring mounted below the inclined portion and resiliently holding the inclined portion upwardly into the path of the cartons, and a stop acting on the vertical portion to limit the upward movement of the inclined portion.

4. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the Width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end flaps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including continuously moving endless belts spaced apart a sufficient distance such that the belts will grip and compress the sides of a carton pushed therebetween and will carry the carton along in a horizontal'path, a continuously moving endless belt mounted above the path of the cartons to move along with the same and apply pressure to the top thereof, horizontal guide rails positioned below a portion of the path of the cartons and extending from a pointin advance of the endless belts to a point below the endless belts to hold the bottom end flaps in folded position against the bottom of the carton, an adhesive roll positioned in the path of the cartons with its axis extending horizontally to contact the bottom end flaps and apply adhesive thereto, and an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons pass thereover, said arm being resiliently mounted in advance of the adhesive roll and in advance of and adjacent to the endless belts which compress the sides of the carton whereby the arm is depressed by the bottom end flaps of the carton as the carton is being placed in position to be acted upon by the endless belts for compressing the sides, and the depressed arm will forcibly push any misaligned partition strips upwardly into the carton as the carton is moved along and the arm snaps past the edge of the bottom. end flap into the space between the bottom end flaps, thereby positioning the partition strips so that they will be retained by the endless belts for compressing the sides.

5. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end flaps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including continuously moving endless belts spaced apart a suificient distance such that the belts will grip and compress the sides of a carton pushed. therebetween and will carry the carton along in a horizontal path, a continuously moving endless belt mounted above the path of the cartons to move along with the same and apply pressure to the top thereof, horizontal guide rails positioned below a portion of the path of the cartons and extending from a point in advance of the endless belts to a point below the endless belts to hold the bottom end flaps in folded position against the bottom of the carton, an adhesive roll positioned in the path of the cartons and having its axis extending horizontally to contact the bottom end flaps and apply adhesive thereto, and an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons pass thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive roll and in advance of and adjacent to the endless belts which compress the sides of the carton, said arm being springloaded so that it will be pushed out of the path by the bottom end flaps as the carton is being placed in position to be gripped by the endless belts and will be forced upwardly into the space between the edges of the bottom end flaps as the carton is advanced thereby causing the arm to push any misaligned partition strips upwardly into position to be retained by the endless belts for compressing the sides.

6. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end flaps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including continuously moving endless belts spaced apart a sufiicient distance such that the belts will grip and compress the sides of a carton pushed therebetweenand will carry the carton along in a horizontal path, a continuously moving endless belt mounted above the path of the cartons to move along with the same and apply pressure to the top thereof, horizontal guide rails positioned below a portion of the path of the cartons to hold the bottom end flaps in folded position against the bottom of the carton, an adhesive roll positioned in the path of the cartons with its axis extending horizontally to contact the bottom end flaps and apply adhesive thereto, and an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons pass thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive roll and in advance of the endless belts which compress the sides of the carton, said arm being pivoted at a point below the path of the carton and extending diagonally upwardly away from the pivot point in the direction of movement of the cartons, and a spring positioned below said arm and holding it upwardly into the path of the cartons whereby the arm will be depressed by the bottom end flaps of the carton as the carton is being placed in position to be acted upon by the endless belts for compressing the sides and said arm will be pushed upwardly into the space between the edges of the bottom end flaps as the carton is advanced thereby forcing any misaligned partition strips upwardly into position so that they will be retained by the endless belts for compressing the sides.

'7. In an apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a rectangular carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having side and end flaps, the width of the end flaps being such that a space exists between the edges of the end naps when they are in folded position on the bottom of the carton, the combination including continuously moving endless belts spaced apart a sufficient distance such that the belts will grip and compress the sides of a carton pushed therebetween and will carry the carton along in a horizontal path, a continuously moving endless belt mounted above the path of the cartons to move along with the same and apply pressure to the top thereof, horizontal guide rails positioned below a portion of the path of the cartons to hold the bottom end flaps in folded position against the bottom of the carton, an adhesive roll positioned in the ath of the cartons to contact the bottom end flaps and apply adhesive thereto, and an arm projecting upwardly into the path of the cartons to raise certain of the partition panels as the cartons pass thereover, said arm being mounted in advance of the adhesive roll and in advance of the endless belts which compress the sides of the carton, said arm having a normally vertical portion and an inclined portion connected to the upper end of the vertical portion and extending diagonally upward and in the direction of the path of the cartons, said arm being pivoted at the upper end of the vertical portion, a spring mounted below the inclined portion and resiliently holding the inclined portion upwardly into the path of the cartons, and a stop acting on the vertical portion to limit the upward movement of the inclined portion.

8. In combination, a horizontal support over which paper cartons having ioldable closing flaps are adapted to be moved in succession past a glue applying station and through a flap closing zone, the cartons having cell forming artitions thereon, certain of which may become misaligned with respect to others and consequently receive a coating of glue at said glue applying station, means arranged in advance of the latter station and actuated in response to the advancing movement of the cartons for moving any misaligned partitions away from a position in which they normally would receive a glue coating at said station, said means comprising an arm having a normally vertical portion and an inclined portion connected to the upper end of the vertical portion, said inclined portion extending diagonally upward and in the direction of the path of the cartons, said arm being pivoted at the upper end of the vertical portion, a spring mounted below the inclined portion and resilient ly holding the inclined portion upwardly into the path of the cartons, and a stop acting on the vertical portion to limit the upward movement of the inclined portion.

9. An apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having bottom end flaps folded inwardly from the bottom end edges of the carton to a horizontal position with their free ends spaced apart and having bottom side flaps foldable inwardly beneath said end flaps, said apparatus comprising horizontally disposed conveyor means for conveying the carton horizontally in the direction of its length, means by which said side flaps are held spread apart and positioned laterally beyond the bottom end flaps during said travel of the carton, a device for applying an adhesive to the bottom surfaces of the end flaps, said device being mounted beneath the path of said end flaps and having an adhesive applying surface extending across the path of said end flaps and positioned to bear against the bottom surfaces of said end flaps as the latter .pass thereover and thereby transfer a coating of adhesive from said device to said bottom surfaces of the flaps, and means positioned beneath the path, of the cartons and in advance of said adhesive applying device and operable to engage any partition strip protruding downward into or through said space between the end naps and force said protruding partition strip upwardly into position to clear said adhesive applying surface as it passes thereover, thereby preventing adhesive being applied to such strip, said means for lifting the partition strips comprising a spring-loaded arm having a stationary mounting beneath the path of the carton and extending forwardly and upwardly in position to bear with a yielding pressure against said bottom end flaps and to engage and lift any said protruding partition strip.

10. An apparatus for sealing the bottom flaps of a carton having partition panels inserted therein, said carton having bottom end flaps folded inwardly from the bottom end edges of the carton to a horizontal position with their free ends spaced apart and having bottom side flaps foldable inwardly beneath said end flaps, said apparatus comprising horizontally disposed conveyor means for conveying the carton horizontally in the direction of its length, means by which said side flaps are held spread apart and positioned laterally beyond the bottom end flaps during said travel of the carton, a device for applying an adhesive to the bottom surfaces of the end flaps, said device being mounted beneath the path of said end flaps and having an adhesive applying surface extending across the path of said end flaps and positioned to bear against the bottom surfaces of said end flaps as the latter pass thereover and thereby tranfer a coating of adhesive from said device to said bottom surfaces of the flaps, and means positioned beneath the path of the cartons and in advance of said adhesive applying device and operable to engage any partition strip protruding downward into or through said space between the end flaps and force said protruding partition strip upwardly into position to clear said adhesive applying eur face as it passes thereover, thereby preventing adhesive being applied to such strip, said means for lifting protruding partition strips comprising an arm pivotally mounted beneath the path of the carton and in advance of the adhesive applying means, said arm extending in a forwardly and upwardly inclined direction with its forward end bearing against the bottom end flaps as the latter pass thereover, spring means for yieldingly holding said arm in an upward operative position, and a stop in position to limit the upward movement of said arm.

Iiteierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,165,695 Montgomery Dec. 28, 1915 1,388,422 Foreman Aug. 23, 1921 1,815,571 Kimball et a1 July 21, 1931 2,109,537 Kimball Mar. 1, 1938 2,135,806 Fermann Nov. 8, 1938 2,160,008 Van Buren May 30, 1939 2,348,650 Rose May 9, 1944 2,462,460 Binsack Feb. 22, 1949 2,579,803 Derderian Dec. 25, 1951 

